Position Overview
The Logistics Supervisor is responsible for leading the safe, accurate, and efficient flow of materials throughout machining operations. This position ensures production has the right material, in the right place, at the right time, while maintaining inventory accuracy and controlling logistics-related costs.
This is a frontline leadership role supporting a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The supervisor will work closely with Production, Material Planning, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Purchasing, Operations Leadership, and UAW-represented employees to prevent material shortages, resolve inventory issues, and continuously improve material flow.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead hourly employees supporting logistics and material-handling operations.
- Ensure machining departments receive material required to meet production schedules.
- Monitor shortages, hot parts, past-due material, trailers, staging areas, and other potential production constraints.
- Proactively identify material shortages before they impact production.
- Manage receiving, issuing, moving, staging, returning, and scrapping of material.
- Maintain strong inventory accuracy and cycle-counting processes.
- Investigate inventory discrepancies and identify root causes rather than simply correcting system quantities.
- Ensure material is properly identified, located, protected, and traceable.
- Manage trailer, dock, supermarket, staging, and point-of-use material flow.
- Develop contingency plans for material shortages, supplier issues, staffing constraints, and equipment disruptions.
- Manage manpower, employee assignments, material-handling routes, and overtime requirements.
- Reduce unnecessary material movement, double handling, excess inventory, premium freight, and non-value-added activity.
- Partner with Production and Planning to respond to changing priorities and material constraints.
- Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for recurring logistics problems.
- Support continuous improvement utilizing Lean principles including Standard Work, 5S, visual management, PDCA, and structured problem solving.
- Maintain strong shift-to-shift communication regarding production requirements and material risks.
Leadership & Employee Management
The Logistics Supervisor will be responsible for creating a respectful, accountable, and team-oriented work environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Coaching, training, and developing hourly employees.
- Establishing clear expectations and holding employees accountable.
- Managing employee conflict and workplace concerns.
- Maintaining accurate employee timecards.
- Administering overtime fairly and in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
- Working collaboratively with UAW-represented employees and union leadership.
- Applying company policies, work rules, and contractual requirements consistently.
- Maintaining documentation related to attendance, performance, training, and employee matters.
- Partnering with Labor Relations when appropriate.
- Building trust through consistent communication, fairness, and follow-through.
Required Qualifications
- Previous leadership or supervisory experience within a manufacturing, machining, logistics, material control, or production environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing material flow and inventory control.
- Experience leading hourly employees.
- Working knowledge of inventory management and production planning systems.
- Strong problem-solving and root-cause-analysis skills.
- Ability to analyze production, inventory, and performance data.
- Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to manage competing production and material priorities.
- Ability to hold employees accountable while maintaining a professional and respectful leadership style.
- Ability to work cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Planning, Purchasing, and Labor Relations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a UAW or unionized manufacturing environment.
- Automotive or high-volume manufacturing experience.
- Experience with material planning, inventory control, warehousing, or plant logistics.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience managing production shortages, inventory discrepancies, and material flow within a manufacturing plant.
What the Day-to-Day Looks Like
The Logistics Supervisor will manage the daily rhythm of the material operation, including:
- Start-of-shift meetings and communication.
- Reviewing production requirements and material constraints.
- Monitoring shortages and inventory accuracy.
- Labor and manpower planning.
- Assigning material movement and staging priorities.
- Addressing safety and material-handling concerns.
- Resolving inventory and quality issues.
- Escalating risks that could disrupt production.
- Following up on open corrective actions.
- Communicating issues and priorities between shifts.
